Update on ‘less in more’

Hello ! My phone tells me it is 17 degrees outside! Is this even true ? Is summer on it’s way? I hope so!!

Today’s post is an update on my last week’s post about using less on my skin to prevent breakouts. I also talked about non-comedogenic ingredients and hormones and my battle with acne in general. So for a week I have been using chosen 4 products, however I did stop at dermalogica counter on Monday and got some samples and also added a toner and an exfoliator to the mix as my skin was kind of screaming for both.

The original 4: Caudalie Vinosource S.O.S Thirst Quenching Serum; Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief; Neutrogena On The Spot Acne Treatment; Dermalgica Clear Start Breakout Clearing Wash

The additions: Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Scrub; Dermalogica Pre-Cleanse; Elemis Soothing Apricot Toner

 

Here’s how my week has gone so far:

I have been using all 4 original products and even easing myself back into benzoyl peroxide (Neutrogena On the Spot Acne Treatment). I have tried to ease myself into it about 5 times now since I had reaction to it the first time and failed every time because the itching and redness was too unbearable. This time I’ve been using On The Spot treatment on individual blemishes, then I used it all over my forehead which is the oiliest so doesn’t get as red or irritated. Last night despite slight redness in my face I used it all over my forehead again as well as my sides and nose. So far the dryness is definitely there so is the redness BUT using Caudalie serum and Clinique moisturiser twice a day generously and religiously has helped a lot! I am sticking to it this time because benzoyl peroxide is a holy grail for me when it comes to acne. I hate the dryness and it is VERY difficult to make foundation work when your skin is dry but benzoyl peroxide is the only acne treatment that works immediately (almost overnight) without purging (initial breakout) and that’s exactly what I need right now. I know that skin gets used to it eventually (like mine did years ago) and the dryness becomes very mild and there is no more itching or redness after 4-6 weeks. Good moisturiser definitely is the key all the way but if spots bother you more than dryness it is worth it because benzoyl peroxide is one of the most effective acne treatments. Benzoyl peroxide shouldn’t really be used with salicylic acid but Dermalogica Clear Start Face Wash is so gentle it seems to work combined with Neutrogena 2.5% benzoyl peroxide. My breakouts have gone right down in size and number this week thanks to benzoyl peroxide mostly but I think it also proves that less is more. Skin is a little irritated at this stage but hopefully next weekend I can post a photo of the improvements.

3 additions to my skin care are:

1. Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Scrub (£9.95 in boots) which is 3 in 1 micro exfoliant with glycolic and salicylic acids to refine, brighten and renew because exfoliating is extremely important. I’ve used it once this week and it only has a few mildly comedogenic ingredients.
2. Dermalogica Pre-Cleanse (full size £34.35 on lookfantastic.com) – this was added because I had a skin assessment by dermalogica on Monday and they prescribed this for dryness and also to ensure that my skin is properly cleansed not leaving any bacteria for acne to feed on. Fortified with olive and kukui oils, Dermalogica Precleanse thoroughly melts layers of excess sebum, sunscreen, waterproof make up, environmental pollutants and residual skin products that build up during the day. This product is pricey but it is the ultimate deep cleansing tool. After using this and Dermalogica Face Wash there is no trace of make up left on my skin and that’s without scrubbing! No comedogenic ingredients in this either.
3. Elemis Soothing Apricot Toner (£22.50 on lookfantastic.com) – how could I forget a toner from the start? I swear by toners. Toning is essential because the skin is naturally acidic with a pH balance around 5-6 and cleansing the skin will strip the natural oil that helps maintain this pH balance due to the alkaline nature of your soap/cleanser/face wash. This will cause your skin to produce an excessive amount of oil to replace what was lost. Toners help your skin maintain the proper pH by neutralising the pH levels after cleansing so your skin will remain healthy. Again, no comedogenic ingredients in Elemis Apricot toner.

My skincare product count may have gone up to 7 but this is much better than what I usually go through in a week. After all it is the full monty now: pre-cleanse; face wash; toner; serum; moisturiser; on the spot treatment and exfoliator.

I tried some dermalogica samples one of the days this week and truly loved the Charcoal Rescue Masque (available in the UK from 4th April I believe). I also really liked the Daily Microfolient, however at £41.75 I need to think about it. Hydrablur Primer was also amazing but again it is £38.00!

I made some changes to my chosen 5 make up products due to dryness and my skin clearing up but I will update you on that tomorrow.

Love,

Mari x

Hormones, acne & non-comedogenic ingredients

Hello on the first day of spring!

I should have picked more cheerful topic but today’s post is about acne again. It will be a slightly different take from my previous acne post. I also have to apologise if some of you think I misuse word ‘acne’ as mine is (or was) very mild so maybe I should say breakouts or blemishes as I know acne can be so much worse than what I have to deal with. However, this post has come about because my blemishes/breakouts have got much much worse recently. I have been off my contraceptive pill for over 3 months and I really really wanted to not go back to it but seeing what my skin is doing – I am not so sure I will be able to stay off it.

Some background information (you can just skip to the next paragraph but it would be useful if you read this): I have suffered from acne (mild to moderate) since I was 14 or 15 but I always kept it at bay with some sort of skincare & having a few spots as a teenager was fine. When I was 19 I went on my first ever contraceptive pill and was also prescribed benzoyl peroxide and Lymecycline because I complained that my breakouts aren’t going away and I was nearly 20 (little did I know that acne can follow you into your adulthood). I stayed on Lymecycline for way longer than I should’ve done and used benzoyl peroxide until last year so for good 5 years ! Once I stopped Lymecycline I realised that actually the pill and benzoyl peroxide are treating my acne not the antibiotics. My acne was almost non-existent for those 4-5 years and I thought I had grown out of it. Then it started returning once I changed my pill (they pre-warn you about this but you always hope for the best), however benzoyl peroxide still kept it at bay. I then ran out of my acne.org benzoyl peroxide 2.5% treatment and wanted to see what happens if I stop using it, I also came off my pill to see the full picture. Contraceptive pill is a great birth control method but I didn’t want to depend on it for the rest of my life. That’s when things slowly but surely went downhill for my skin. 

I have to admit I change my skincare like socks. This is not just beauty blogger thing as I don’t class myself as real beauty blogger and don’t get sent stuff, this is because my skin changes all the time and I think a lot of it is down to hormones, weather and how it reacts to different treatments. In my ‘Living with acne’ post I talked about products I use daily/weekly to keep my acne at bay and they are tried and tested so I would still recommend every one of them. But it also got me thinking – am I putting too much on my skin? I have over 20 different acne products in my ‘collection’. I don’t use them every day and some of them are for my body acne, some are vitamins, some are ‘once a week’ scrubs and peels. Yet is my skin getting stripped off it’s natural oils and nutrients and has too much to handle?

I will say that my skin is pretty bad at the moment and contrarily to my Living with acne post where I talked about more natural methods, if what I am about to try for the next couple of weeks doesn’t work I will probably have to go back on my pill and maybe even get a prescription from my GP. Acne is depressing and if the only way to fight it is medication it will have to be that. I am 26 this year for heaven’s sake! I can’t go to work with a spotty face.

So now onto my test for the next 2 weeks or so. I decided to strip my bathroom cabinets from all my samples, products sent to me in beauty boxes etc and keep selected 4. Same with make up. I want to see if my skin prefers less. The selection I have made had 2 rules:

• It had to include moisturiser and serum because my skin is very dehydrated at the moment
• Ingredients in these products had to be non-comedogenic or mildly comedogenic (grade 1-2)

My selected 4 skincare products are:

1. Dermalogica Clear Start Breakout Clearing Wash – 1 acne causing ingredient Butylene Glycol which is mildly comedogenic (or grade 1, on scale 1-5) so it’s all good. Butylene glycol is a chemical compound —a colorless organic alcohol used in the following ways: as a solvent (helps other products dissolve in water), as a viscosity-decreasing agent (to thin creams and gels so they’re easier to use), and as a conditioning agent.
2. Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief – No acne causing ingredients found. Boom!
3. Caudalie Vinosource S.O.S Thirst Quenching Serum – 1 acne causing ingredient Dimethicone which is mildly comedogenic (or grade 1). Dimetchicone is used variously in the cosmetic and consumer product industry as well,  dimethicone is used widely in skin-moisturizing lotions where it is listed as an active ingredient whose purpose is skin protection.
4. On-the-Spot® Acne Treatment – this is benzoyl peroxide which not only I am trying to stay away from but I also have recently been having reactions to it, however this particular on-the-spot treatment is great as I only use it on the spot and not all over my face. This has no acne causing ingredients (as you’d expect).

5th product in the picture is La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo[+] which I have been using quite a lot but when I checked the ingredients I was shocked (bearing in mind it is acne treatment, they also claim that product is paraben-free and non-comedogenic). The truth is it has 4 acne causing ingredients: Dimethicone which is mildly comedogenic (as above, this is ok); Glyceryl Stearate Se which is highly comedogenic (grade 3) – Glyceryl Stearate acts as a lubricant on the skin’s surface, which gives the skin a soft and smooth appearance. It also slows the loss of water from the skin by forming a barrier on the skin’s surface. Isocetyl Stearate which again is highly comedogenic (GRADE 5!!) – is an oily liquid. Stearate esters act primarily as lubricants on the skin’s surface, which gives the skin a soft and smooth appearance. Isopropyl Stearate dries to form a thin coating on the skin. Isocetyl Stearate can also be used to dissolve other substances, usually liquids; and Myristyl Myristate which is also highly comedogenic (GRADE 5!) – Myristic Acid, also called tetradecanoic acid, occurs naturally in vegetable or animal fats and oils with relatively high levels found in nutmeg, palm oil, coconut oil and butter. Often used as hair conditioning agent and binder. So I won’t be using this again and don’t recommend the brand for lying even if you are not great believer in non-comedogenic ingredients.

4 selected make up items (not including eye make up, lipstics etc of course):

1. Balance Me Balancing Face Moisturiser – this is not make up but I like applying this particulair moisturiser before doing my make up as it gives really matte surface to work on and sometimes I can avoid using primer (I hate primers). It has 2 acne causing ingredients but both mildly comedogenic. Cetearyl Alcohol which is grade 2 – Works as an emulsifier or thickener and carrying agent for other ingredients contained in a cosmetic solution. It keeps the oil and water parts of an emulsion from separating, and gives products good spreadability. Despite the fact that the CIR Expert Panel recognizes this ingredient as non-irritating, many dermatologists recommend that individuals with sensitive/irritated skin avoid it so this one is for yourselves to decide on. Glyceryl Stearate unlike Glyceryl Stearate SE (Self-emulsifying) is only grade 1.
2. Clinique Anti Blemish BB Cream SPF40 – Annoyingly Clinique do not publish their ingredients online! Unbelievable in this day and age if you ask me. Anyway I checked about 50% of them manually and they all come up as grade 0-2 so I will trust that this product is non-comedogenic to mildly comedogenic. I will email Clinique for full list though.
3. Vichy Dermablend Corrective Foundation with SPF35 – I use this as concealer and it has no acne causing ingredients.
4. Make Up Forever HD Powder – 2 acne causing ingredients. Dimethicone is mildly comedogenic, Zinc Stearate is also mildly comedogenic (it is fine, white powder with a slight fatty odor, generally used for their lubricating properties.

I also wanted to add this to my selection and use instead of primer because it smells and feels amazing but I won’t be. Olay Regenerist Luminous Skin Tone Perfecting Day Cream – 3 acne causing ingredients, 2 of them we are familiar with (Butylene Glycol and Dimethicone – mildly comedogenic) and unfortunately Laureth-4 which is highly comedogenic (grade 5) – clear, colorless liquid, used in cosmetics and personal care products also used in cuticle softeners, deodorants and moisturizing products.

Also remember to wash your brushes! Acne LOVES bacteria.

To my surprise Benefit The POREfessional only has one mildly comedogenic ingrredient –  Dimethicone. I don’t generally like primers but this one has been working for me. Unfortunately, I felt like it was clogging my pores but now I know it isn’t I can use it with confidence.

I will let you know how I get on with these 7-8 products.

P.S. I use acnemantra for long lists of ingredients and sageskincare for individual ingredients.

Love,

Mari x

Dry vs Dehydrated Skin – What’s the Difference?

Having problematic skin teaches you a lot. I would like to remind you that I am not a dermatologist nor make up artist so this post like others is purely my own experience but fighting acne (fairly mild but still acne) and having oily t-zone as well as suffering from dryness caused by acne products (vicious circle as you can tell!) makes you experiment with a lot of products but also  every time I research a product I learn a lot about ingredients and skin in general. I hope you find some of the information I share useful, however mostly this is about what products I like and dislike and how I recently learned about difference between dry and dehydrated skin. I will start with the below photo which I believe originally comes from dermalogica website but is now widely available on articles / blogs across the internet.

The above sums up the difference between dry and dehydrated skin so I won’t talk about it much further, I will however tell you about products I have tried to battle my DEHYDRATED not DRY skin and which have succeeded and which – failed. I used to think I have dry skin (caused by acne medication) but as soon as I started using moisturiser for dry skin it would break out and become super-oily. And what prompted me to think that my skin is dehydrated not dry wasn’t the products that didn’t work, it was in fact Balace Me skin scanning session at the Glamour Beauty Festival last weekend. Their clever skin scanners revealed purple patches ALL OVER my face which meant they were the dehydrated areas. 90% of my face was purple in the UV light and it alerted me! I mean I knew I had dry skin (or thought I did) but didn’t think it was that bad. I then spoke to Balance Me representative and things started to make sense..

In one simple sentence: Dehydrated skin lacks water and dry skin lacks oil. So I figured I need water not oil, every moisturiser with oil in has done more harm then good so I decided to try oil-free moisturisers and make up. And I think it is working. I am a little pre-mature with this post but I have been SO impressed with one particular product that I needed to write this.

The biggest problem with having what feels like dry skin (even if it is in reality dehydrated) is applying make up and making it look good and healthy. Impossible when you have dry patches everywhere, if you ask me! That is also the downside of acne treatments like benzoyl peroxide, it is brilliant at getting rid of spots but dries the skin out and I would argue spots are easier to cover than dryness!

As I said I am not a dermatologist and there is a lot more to it than just saying dehydrated skin needs water and dry skin needs oil, however I would just end up copying paragraphs from dermalogica and other websites if I went into all the detail. So if you are interested in the subject I recommend doing your research to understand your skin better, meanwhile I will talk about a few products that have been great/not so great for my dehydrated skin.

So first of all – what works?

The above 4 – that’s it.

I haven’t tried it all obviously but I’ve tried a fair share and only selected 4 have been good for my dehydrated not dry skin.

1. Clinique Moisture Surge Intense Skin Fortifying Hydrator 50ml  (£34.00 in Boots) – I have used this only 3 times now but it is an incredible product. My skin was 90% purple patches on Saturday and even though I can’t see the difference as I don’t have the Balance Me skin scanner I am sure it has improved already, it feels alive again. This cream is for drier skins, or others dehydrated by air travel, parched climate, indoor heating/air conditioning – which is what my skin is. This cream is rich yet oil-free cream gel that instantly rehydrates. Daily use helps fortify and repair skin’s moisture barrier to keep moisture in, environmental irritants out. Reviews of this cream online are amazing and I no doubt give this 10/10, and I really believe if you have acne prone skin that feels dry after salicylic acid / benzoyl peroxide treatments this is what you need as your moisturiser.
2. Clinique Anti Blemish BB Cream SPF 40 30ml (£28.00 in Boots) – I have tried and reviewed many foundations and there is a foundation for every occasion, however this BB cream (as off a few days ago) is my every day make up holy grail. Combines oil control, buildable coverage and UVA/UVB protection & does it all without clogging pores or causing breakouts. This product has divided the internet (well the online reviewers at least) and I can actually agree with positive and negative reviews. This BB Cream does not come in enough shades and I am just lucky to perfectly match the light. They are all on pinky side which is not everybody’s skin tone. It is also messy because it is very ‘watery’ which many people dislike, however I love it because it is what makes it non-cakey and hydrating! This BB cream works really well with the Mositure Surge cream and my dry skin has disappeared within 2 days. I am not exaggerating. I love wearing this because I know it works as skin care, BB stands for Beauty Balm after all. It is also super buildable and in 2 layers it gives more coverage than any foundation I’ve tried. Fear not it being a BB cream. SCORE: 10/10 again
3. Balance Me balancing face moisturiser (£24.00 on balanceme.co.uk for full size 50ml) – this is another product that works on dehydrated rather than dry skin. This is not oil free but the fancy oils in it claim to prevent spots, calm and reduce existing blemishes, brighten skin, lightly hydrate and control oily skin which I believe it does. What I love about this product is that is gives very matte finish despite being a moisturiser so it is perfect before applying make up. It was recommended to me after the skin scan and balance me brand name speaks for itself, it is meant to balance the skin. SCORE: strong 9/10 
4. The Body Shop Vitamin C Energizing Face Spritz  (£11.00 on thebodyshop.co.uk) – last but not least this is what dehydrated skin needs. It gives instant hydration and can be used over make-up and is even meant to set it. It smells very fresh and citrusy so is a great quick solution for dull-looking skin. It shall not replace moisturiser (obviously) but it is a great addition to any skin care regime. SCORE: 8/10

Now, I don’t like talking about products I  dislike but there are a few that have failed and are probably good for actually DRY skin that lacks oil (mine does not) but not acne prone dehydrated skin. I will only mention 2 that in my opinion you should steer clear of!

1. LUSH Celestial Facial Moisturizer (£12.95 in LUSH) – I don’t like the smell or the consistency of this cream, it feels/smells like yogurt and putting yogurt on my skin reminds me of being on holiday in Hungary somewhere on a hot summer day when I was 10 or 11, I got badly sunburnt so the B&B owner suggested I used greek yoghurt on the skin to soothe it. It smelt like burnt milk which it essentially was once it landed on my skin and it is not a great memory!
   I like and dislike LUSH, it is a brand with great beliefs, fighting animal cruelty etc but some of their inventions are extreme I’d say. Like their toothy tabs (check them out on their website). All the above aside, this cream is VERY greasy. It’s main ingredient is almond oil and it is not for acne sufferers! I will be using the tub up as body cream but not on my face. It was my own mistake for buying it really.
2. Garnier Moisture Bomb Night Cream (currently £5.33 in Boots) – I received this in my Glamour Beauty Festival Goodie Bag and wanted to like it but again – it is so greasy. It claims not to be sticky or greasy and sink into the skin but it is not the case. I think it is good for dry skin that is not prone to acne but not that good for skin that’s dehydrated from acne treatments/cold weather etc. Ingredient list isn’t too transparent and 90% of it I can’t understand so  I don’t have too much trust in this cream. It feels very lightweight when applied but it brings out the shine within minutes.
   

I hope you enjoyed reading this post and please share your own favourites / least favourotes and your dry/dehydrated skin journey. I am always trying out new things and always learning so this is just a fraction of what I have learnt recently.

Love,

Mari x

BIRCHBOX FEBRUARY 2016

My first Birchbox, and what are my thoughts ?

• Box – pretty but rather small? Still nice though. Reassured me that full size shampoo / body lotion etc would not fit inside this box which suggests Birchbox doesn’t include items bigger than 100ml or so. I could be wrong and maybe boxes vary in size month to month? Someone enlighten me!
• Delivery – had no issues, box was delivered on the date promised
• Price – reasonable (£10 per month + £2.95 for delivery)
• Contents – judging by February box only – very similar to Glossybox, probably slightly better brand choice (i.e. no cheap high street brands that are available in Superdrug etc) & no nail polishes !! But this might just be a lucky dip!

 

Inside February’s Birchbox: 

1. LOC One & Done Shadow Stick in Perfect Cents (£8.00 on birchbox.co.uk) – this is Birchbox’s own brand and stands for Love of Color. Clever! According to Birchbox brand LOC this Shadow Stick removes the need for multiple brushes, blenders, and primers to deliver up to 11 hours of creaseless, waterproof colour in just one swipe. My verdict is that it does all the above but the shade is a little bit 90s. It’s silvery bronze, very metallic. I would be keen to try the other shade (Champagne Problems) to see if I prefer it. This product has 180 reviews on birchbox.co.uk and all are pretty solid 4-5 stars so I think it’s just me disliking the shade! SCORE: 9/10 for quality; 5/10 for the shade.
2. Cochine White Jasmine & Gardenia Hand & Body Lotion (full size £19.00 on birchbox.co.uk) – this is a no for me because of the scent. Smells like fancy restaurant loos. I think this lotion is what hotels / bars would purchase for their fancy toilets and that’s great! I would use it if it was by their sink. I am not a fan of Yasmin scent anyway and I prefer sweet vanilla / coconut scents when it comes to body lotions and shower creams. Lotion itself leaves skin feeling silky smooth and is absorbed quickly but it is all about the scent unfortunately. I would consider other Cochine scents but I am not sure I would pick any of them as I don’t mix home fragrances with body lotions. If I had a fancy guest toilet I would repurchase. SCORE: 4/10 for the scent; 9/10 for quality
3. Number 4 Lumiere d’Hiver Super Comb Prep & Protect (full size £20.00 on birchbox.co.uk) – I loved this product and have used it up already! ‘Strengthening, repairing, de-tangling, great at taming flyway ends as well as nourishing and protecting, it’s a brilliant all-rounder.’ Yup – tick, tick, tick, tick. It does what it says. And I love the scent, can’t describe it but it has a hint of vanilla (I think). I have rather oily roots and this product is perfect as it conditions my hair without leaving it greasy. If that’s not enough it is also 100% Vegan, gluten-free, sulphate-free and paraben-free. Will repurchase eventually, not now as the price is a bit steep and I am on ‘no shopping’ mission for 30 days. SCORE: 10/10 
4. Doux Me Comforting Scrub Mask (full size £18.00 on birchbox.co.uk) – I didn’t love this because I like my skincare to leave my face feeling fresh and I love masks that pull my skin and I can really feel them working, while this mask is kind of sweet (it does contain Apricot oil, Roman chamomile and marshmallow extracts after all!). It left my face feeling almost sugary. It is a nice product but not for me. I will use the travel size product but won’t be repurchasing. Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel is my solution to dead skin cells. SCORE: 6/10
5. Spectrum Collections Tulip Powder Brush (£10.00 on birchbox.co.uk) – I think this is the brush I received but I am struggling to tell because mine isn’t numbered!! Anyway – I am 99.9% sure it is. Other Spectrum brushes are available on birchbox.co.uk. I am a sucker for brushes, I have lots of them, including MAC, bareMinerals and some Real Techniques but I have 2-3 favourites and I struggle to give them up and replace. I tried this brush for my contouring needs the other day and it’s nice. I am looking forward to taking it out in my clutch bag on Saturday because it is so pretty I think it might get some compliments! I won’t be using as my main contouring brush I don’t think as I prefer angled contour brushes. SCORE: 8/10 

What I really love about Birchbox is that all full size products can be purchased on thier website. It makes it easy for everyone but especially for beauty bloggers who spend so much time looking for best prices, availability etc to include links in their posts. Some items I have received in Glossyboxes in the past aren’t even available in the UK which is annoying. I also love Birchbox’s website, it is just so 2016!

I have unsubscribed while I am trialing out different beauty box subscriptions (can’t afford them all!) but I might come back in the future because I like what I see and I see what I like!

Love,

Mari x

FAVOURITE 5 FOR UNDER £10

Some of you might know that this month I am not buying anything new so it is all about wish lists and beauty on a budget for me right now. Timing has been pretty bad because I have ran out of some of my favourites including Talika Photo Hydra Day Cream and Glamglow Supermud Face Mask. However, in the past I have often discovered cheaper alternatives when I couldn’t afford to replace the more expensive items so it might be good timing after all. To be honest, I am enjoying no shopping challenge A LOT so ‘under £10’ type of posts is something you might see more often in the future. I am not saying I will give  up shopping forever because I do like to treat myself but an annual ‘cleanse’ / ‘detox’ is something I really recommend! And I am learning that seeing more money (i.e. any money at all 2 days after payday) in my bank account feels almost as good as walking out of MAC with a nice little black bag or receiving a cheeky parcel from lookfantastic.com in post.

Long story short, here are my favourite 5 items for under £10.

 

1. L’Oreal Paris Nude Magique BB Powder in Light (£6.99 on boots.com) – I’ve never been too fussed about setting powders, I don’t see a point in spending a lot of money on them because they all seem to do the same thing. I’ve tried MAC, Bobbi Brown, MaxFactor, Clinique and now Loreal powders and so far this one is as good as others. It is very lightweight and in light it is perfect for pale skin.
2. Sainsbury’s Vitamin E SPF 15 Day Cream 50ml (£2.00 in Sainsbury’s) – kind of replacing my Talika Photo Hydra Day Cream at the moment. And yes, it costs £2.00! I picked this up during my weekly food shop some time ago because I had read about benefits of vitamin E but never got round using it. This cream is non-greasy, lightweight and smells lovely. I mean it is Sainsbury’s – they don’t specialise in skincare so I am not going to fully convert to Sainsbuty’s for my beauty needs but this cream is pretty amazing.
3. Revlon ColorStay™ Makeup For Combination/Oily Skin (currently £6.49 on boots.com) – this foundation comes in a glass bottle therefore it’s difficult to ‘fish it out’ but it gives great coverage, it’s not cakey yet buildable. Stays in place all day and stays matte! It may currently be under £10 (normally £12.95) but it’s better than many expensive foundations I’ve tried. It’s maybe even better than Estée Lauder Double Wear. Actually I think it is. Yup, sort out the packaging Revlon and I am in!
4. Boots Tea Tree & Witch Hazel Charcoal Face Mask (£3.59 on boots.com) – this is a real bargain if you ask me. I ran out of my Glamglow Supermud and as I promised myself to use up my beauty stash I thought this mask was the closest thing to the £35 Glamglow mud mask. It contains antibacterial Tea Tree Oil and skin calming Witch Hazel in conjunction with activated Charcoal to keep your skin clear and healthy and after 2 uses I am impressed. It really works and leaves my skin feeling clean and fresh! It is more lightweight than Glamglow Supermud and of course the ingredient list is different but it is the result I care about the most so for 1/10th of the cost I might re-consider Glamglow Supermud. I still love it but I could buy 10 Boots Charcoal masks for the cost of 1 Supermud.. What do you think?
5. NYX Make up setting spray – matte finish/long lasting (£7.00 on boots.com) – this is my first/only setting spray and has been in my make up box for a while. I don’t normally use it but the few times I have used it it has done the job. Revlon foundation is pretty matte anyway but this setting spray keeps all the make up in place. It is light and fragrance free, not sticky and comfortable while working hard to make sure your make up stays put.

What are your favourite beauty products under £10?

Love,

Mari

NOTHING NEW FOR A MONTH

Evening beautiful people!

We all know blogging can become a little addictive and a little expensive especially when it’s just a hobby and not a career. I have been spoilt with a Christmas beauty hamper which is still on the go and I haven’t even tried half of the stuff but I have also had a few months of buying lots of new things and subscribing to different beauty boxes so I am sampled out and my drawers and storage boxes are full of things to try and review. I have therefore decided to buy absolutely nothing new for the next 30 days. Starting today. There are a few essentials on my list that I am allowed to buy if I run out but nothing over £5. No new make up, no new accessories, no shoes or clothes either, nothing new for the flat, no magazines (this way I can’t substitute beauty products with other nice things). I am currently subscribed to Look Incredible beauty box which will be the only £18.99 I spend in March. I am keeping this subscription because as part of this challenge / experiment I also want to see if it’s possible to only live off one beauty box per month and nothing else (bear in mind this beauty box guarantees 5 full size products), so be it a shampoo or a mascara, I want to see if I can only spend £18.99 per month on beauty.

On my list of essentials that I’m allowed to buy are: toothpaste, wet wipes, nail polish remover, shower gel, deodorant. You get the gist! Absolute essentials that don’t normally come in beauty boxes / gift hampers. No shampoos even because I have a few to try, no face washes, moisturisers or mascaras! Nothing. I hope to save a bit of money and will report on the outcome on 23rd March.

I have to mention that I am going to be attending Glamour Beauty Feastival on 12th March but the goodie bag and any other freebies I receive will remain unopened until 23rd because otherwise I am cheating on ‘only one beauty box per month’ part of the experiment. It will be difficult to not be able to buy anything at the festival but on the other hand – bloody good timing because I could’ve potentially ended up spending a lot of money!!

To keep my blog going and keep you lot entertained I will be reviewing the below items plus many more that are either unopened and waiting to be used or some of my favourites that I haven’t mentioned yet.

I love shopping & have never not bought anything for a month so wish me luck!

Are you giving anything up for lent?

GLOSSYBOX 1 YEAR ON

Sorry if you’re bored of hearing about Glossybox but Glossybox is my first love in the world of beauty and I will forever be talking about it like a smitten schoolgirl.

Glossybox lead me to many discoveries. It was my first ever subscription box and I have to thank Glossybox for teaching me so many things about my skincare routine and make up. Those of you out there who are beauty box subscription virgins I recommend you subscribe to one of many beauty box services promptly because it is a world full of discoveries and magic you are missing out on. You may think you already have your all time favourite products and know everything you need to know about them. You may think you have all the make up you need (said no one ever by the way). You may think you’re not that interested in beauty (don’t think you would be reading my blog though). You may just be fussy and think that a beauty box full of items picked by someone else isn’t for you. Well, you may be right but you may be wrong.

Some of my Glossyboxes. Others are hiding in drawers and cupboards as great storage solution. #upcycle

 

I wasn’t really ‘into’ beauty a year ago the way I am ‘into’ beauty today. I started using make up when I was 14 or 15 and women in my family and their friends were Avon and Mary Kay promoters since I can remember so I did know something about make up and skincare and when I started earning my own money I got more and more into luxury brands. I would buy what’s recommended to me by a sales person at a particular make up counter, sometimes I’d read about a product in a magazine. It was an expensive hobby if you ask me! And being a polite person I would often walk away with half the stuff I didn’t come there for! So I started reading beauty blogs, I started doing my own research and the more I was reading the more I was finding out about brands I had never heard of before and products I had no idea existed. Then a friend of mine told me about Glossybox and the timing was just right I guess, as I was starting to really educate myself about skincare and make up. £10 wasn’t something I had to think about twice so I subscribed last March.

My first ever Glossybox left me gobsmacked because I couldn’t believe that for £10 I could really be getting £50+ worth of beauty products. But you can! Then I slowly but surely got a little bit spoilt and as I became more picky I found some glossyboxes really disappointing. But like with your first real love not everything is sugar-coated (most of it is, of course). One year on I give Glossybox a steady 8/10 which is very very good. Short of excellent because of numerous nail polishes I now possess. And short of exceptional because very few things in my life make the cut.

Products and money aside, Glossybox taught me things that are priceless. Let me just say, I knew what a moisturiser, conditioner, face mask and a toner is before Glossybox. What I didn’t know quite as well is how many different types of these products are on the market. I’m talking variations, ingredients, price ranges and so on. Glossybox always comes with a description of each product inside which means you can learn about main ingredients, how to use it, what it is good for and often about the brand itself. When it comes to make up I used to think I am ok, I know what I like, I know what I should/shouldn’t be using but Glossybox opened doors I didn’t even know were there (you know like platform 9 3/4 in Harry Potter). Recently, I discovered that a brown eyeliner actually looks amazing on me. I also discovered that there are mascaras out there that are as good but cheaper than benefit they’re real which I’ve been using for the last 2 years. I discovered that bronzers work on fair skin too and that primer is actually a must. I never go to a make up store now hoping somebody can help me pick the right foundation or highlighter, I actually know exactly which one I want and I also know which products I won’t be walking away with. Glossybox has given me an opportunity month after month to try so many different things, some that have become my beauty staples or at least inspired me to get something similar and some that have been a complete disaster and have reassured me that I don’t need certain other things. I say ‘things’ because Glossybox isn’t just skincare and make up but you’ll have to subscribe to see for yourself.

It could’ve been any beauty box subscription I suppose. But how would you feel if I told you your first love could’ve been any boy/girl at school?

Glossybox, it is time for me to move on and explore some other beauty box subscriptions out there (unfortunately my funds are limited so I can’t keep them all going) but I will be back to see what else you can surprise me with.

To leave on a positive note, here are my Glossybox March 2015 – February 2016 TOP 5 (in no particular order):

1. Talika Photo Hydra Day Cream (£27.00 – £39.15 on beautybay.com)
2. Maria Nila Luminous Colour Masque (£8.99 on salon-services.com)
3. Naobay Calming Face Toner (£10.50 on birchbox.co.uk)
4. Nicka K Airbrush Blending Sponge (£6.50 on beautycrowd.com)
5. Invisiboble Traceless Hair Rings (£3.75 on boots.com)

Love,

Mari xxx

WISH LIST FEBRUARY 2016

Everybody has a wish list. Most of mine include make up, shoes, pretty things for the flat and a puppy. However, I have carefully selected 4 beauty must haves which I quite frankly MUST HAVE.

1. Loreal Color Riche Collection Exclusive Reds in Blake’s Red (£6.99 in Boots) – I love Blake Lively (yes, I love Gossip Girl too). I always want to look like Blake and I love this shade of red. For £6.99 I can’t possibly go wrong! Packaging reminds me of Louboutin lipsticks a little (far from it really but the vibe is there) and it is 1/10 of the price so I am definitely purchasing this to add to my lipstick collection. Louboutin Lipstick is on my wish list too by the way but let’s not even go there.
2. YSL Touche Eclat Neutraliser  in green, apricot and violet (£25.00 each on yslbeauty.co.uk) – I love YSL Touche Eclat highlighter / concealer and now I am so tempted to buy at least the green Touche Eclat Neutraliser. Colour correcting is not a new concept but I have never been keen on thick, creamy concealers and most colour correctors seem to be thick and creamy. I know that original Touche Eclat is the best concealer out there so I have my trust in these new neutralisers. Violet – Use it to neutralize dull or sallow skin. Apricot – Use it to neutralize dark spots and improve skin uniformity. Green – Use it to neutralize redness on the skin and minimise blemishes.
3. Murad Essential-C Toner (£25.00 on murad.co.uk) – I love my Elemis Apricot Toner but I have also fallen in love with Murad brand and I am feeling a bit adventurous. Not many of my beauty products contain vitamin C but it is so important for maintaining a healthy glow. Murad Essential-C Toner also contains Witch Hazel to help minimise the appearance of pores.
4. Revlon ColorStay™ Makeup For Combination/Oily Skin (£6.49 in Boots) – I will say two things – read the reviews and then check the price! My foundations cost me between £20 and £35 every time, without fail! And I still haven’t found ‘THE ONE’. I am currently loving Estee Lauder Double Wear but no doubt I will find something else to try in couple of months spending another £30.00. So I decided I need to give something on a budget a chance. I don’t know why there’s this stigma around cheap foundations, I always assume they will make me break out but so does MAC and that’s not a cheap brand.
5. Not directly on my wish list but there are 3 beauty boxes I need to try: Look Fantastic beauty box, Cohorted Beauty box and my most recent discovery – Look Incredible beauty box. Lookfantastic.com is a website  that sells every make up brand imaginable so I decided their beauty boxes must be pretty good as they have access to all these brands! It is £15.00 for one month’s subscription (gets cheaper if you subscribe for 3,6 or 12 months) and contents are similar to Birchbox and Glossybox with some travel size and some full size products including some high street as well as luxury brands. Look Incredible Beauty box costs £18.99 per month which is still something I can justify but guarantees 5 FULL SIZE products each month. I am kind of sampled out at the moment so I am excited to see if 5 full size products each month as they could be the only 5 beauty products I need, saving me a lot of money! You can’t choose your products so if you run out of mascara you run out of mascara but I think apart from that it may be a good monthly beauty product supply. Previous boxes look amazing and I think with my expensive taste it might be the one for me! Cohorted beauty box is £35.00 per month which is a bit steep but it is usually worth over £100 and again might be more useful as I do like luxury brands and maybe paying £35 could pay off in a long run. It is also available as quarterly subscription which is a more sensible option, I guess!

My birthday is in September and Christmas is in December (obviously) so looks like I will have to do one of those ‘TO ME, FROM ME’ gifts. It’s all about self-love after all.

Love,

Mari xx

 

LIVING WITH ACNE

After trying to write a review of food supplements I use for my skin and my Bravura Glycolic Acid Night Treatment review also still pending I decided that I need to look at the bigger picture. So this is my post about how I live with my mild/moderate acne and how I have gone off antibiotics, contraceptives and benzoyl peroxide by using the below products with my acne still at bay. This post will incorporate reviews of various anti-acne (the obvious and the not-so-obvious) products and some advice from personal experience. I hope you can take something away from this but remember that there are dermatologists and GPs out there so don’t suffer in silence if your acne bothers you. My complete acne solution includes 26 products plus some that didn’t make the cut. These have been tried and tested by me over long period of time and I don’t suggest you rush to buy every single one of them (because that would set you back £400+). Feel free to read this post on and off, maybe return when you need some inspiration and/or advice.

This post has 7 chapters:

1. Cleansing
2. Toning
3. Moisturising
4. Overnight treatments
5. Masks & peels
6. Food supplements
7. Body acne

CLEANSING

My cleansing routine is pretty simple and most days done in-shower. Below are 4 products I class as my cleansers. I have included Grounded Coffee Scrub even though it is a scrub not a cleanser but I believe exfoliation is cleansing anyway.

Grounded Coffee Scrub; Dermalogica Clear Start Foaming Wash; Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser; Bravura Dermaflannel

 

Grounded Body Scrub Coconut Scent Coffee Scrub (£15.00 in Boots) – I use this scrub in the shower on my face and body 2-3 times a week, I only recently discovered this and reviewed it here. I love this scrub because it is packed with vitamins and minerals. It contains brown sugar and himilayan rock salt to scrub away dry, dead or flakey skin and leaves skin moisturised and hydrated with vitamin E oil and cold pressed almond oil. It is rougher than most scrubs but the list of ingredients is so transparent that you shouldn’t worry about it harming your skin. This scrub is currently very popular, google it and see what the fuss is all about! This scrub is not the most effective acne treatment directly but as far as scrubs go it is the best one I have tried and it helps my acne by moisturising and nourishing my skin with the natural ingredients.

Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser (£34.00 on murad.co.uk) – currently on murad.co.uk all products are 3 for 2 so if you are feeling adventurous I really recommend this brand (unless, of course, you have heard of them already). I currently have this product in travel size but I have already ordered full size version. This exfoliating cleanser combines salicylic, glycolic and lactic acids and the trio provides clarity, brightness and improves cell-turnover by dissolving dead skin cell build up and revealing a radiant complexion.This cleanser is from Murad’s anti-ageing range but salicylic acid is one of the most effective acne treatments, two birds with one stone – why not? It is a gentle cleanser with jojoba beads that will polish, exfoliate and smooth skin while boosting hydration. I use this 2-3 days a week (on the days I don’t use the Grounded Coffee Scrub).

Dermalogica Clear Start Breakout Clearing Foaming Wash (£13.10 on dermalogica.co.uk) – I use my Bravura Dermaflannel (£11.99 on bravuralondn.com) to wash my face at night and simply lukewarm water in the mornings. This face wash again is salicylic acid based, it is very gentle and little goes a long way. I prefer this over other salicylic acid based brands because it doesn’t make my skin dry and it is affordable (compared to what acne treatments can cost). I use this on my face and body when I shower. It is virtually scent-free and is one of my main acne treatments. Bravura Dermaflanner comes with a long list of instructions and precautions (you can read them here), however I never rub my skin with this cloth and literally just tap it over my chest, back and face and it works really well. Be careful if you try it though as it can be a bit harsh on sensitive skin.

Over-exfoliating can do more harm than good and even though I alternate between my coffee scrub and Murad exfoliating cleanser I don’t recommend exfoliating daily. Grounded coffee scrub is very gentle and has all natural ingredients so I sometimes forget it’s an exfoliator but some days it’s best if I only use it on my body. Also, be careful with different brands that potentially have the same ingredients – you may think you are alternating between two different products but many anti-acne products have salicylic acid in them and you can end up stripping your skin from natural oils which will make your acne worse.

TONING

My pet hate – people who think toning is out-dated and harsh on your skin. Forgive me if you are one of those people. I am not here to preach but toning has a scientific explanation.

Elemis Soothing Apricot Toner; Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water

 

Why do so many people think toning does more harm than good? Because many toners have alcohol in them (plus a long list of other horrible ingredients) and those toners make skin dry and irritated. There are, however, many toners on the market these days that are alcohol free and gentle on your skin. Toning is essential because the skin is naturally acidic with a pH balance around 5-6 and cleansing the skin will strip the natural oil that helps maintain this pH balance due to the alkaline nature of your soap/cleanser/face wash. This will cause your skin to produce an excessive amount of oil to replace what was lost. Toners help your skin maintain the proper pH by neutralising the pH levels after cleansing so your skin will remain healthy.

Elemis Soothing Apricot Toner (£22.50 on elemis.com) – this is my favuorite toner because it is spray on which means less unnecessary contact with skin. It is not cheap but this as well as Elemis Ginseng Toner are both money well spent. It smells like apricots and there is nothing harsh about this toner. I’d like to call it apricot water because it feels so good on my skin. This is the one and only toner I use and would never skip toning. You can find out more about active ingredients in this toner as well as some beauty therapist tips on Elemis website.

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water (£3.33 in Boots) – ok, so this is not a toner but you sort of  use it like a toner and I didn’t know which chapter to include this product in. Micellar Water is fairly new on the UK beauty market (or maybe I am late to the party?) and I have only recently incorporated this into my skincare. Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water contains micelles which act like magnets, gently lifting away makeup and impurities from the skin, without the need to rub or rinse (which is a great solution for acne prone skin as you want to avoid touching it). I use this when I am feeling a bit lazy (nobody’s perfect). It takes my make up off in seconds (including mascara) and leaves my skin feeling clean and moisturised, this is my new wet wipe alternative because wet wipes are evil. I recommend this product for those of you who live busy lives and sometimes need a quick fix.

MOISTURISING 

This is the tricky part. Acne is often caused by oil overproduction so finding a moisturiser that is oil free yet good enough to soothe those dry patches caused by active acne treatments has always been my biggest challenge.

Cetaphil Moisturising Cream; Manuka Doctor ApiClear Serum; La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo Acne Treatment; Clarins Truly-Matte Hydra Matte Lotion; Clarins Truly-Matte Pore Minimising Serum

Cetaphil Moisturising Cream (£6.73 in Boots) – this is suitable for eczema and psoriasis prone skin which is reassuring. Cetaphil is a brand aimed at problem skin associated with common skin conditions and following dermatological treatments. It is fragrance free and won’t block your pores, it is also non greasy and recommended to re-hydrate problem skin. It might be a boring drugstore moisturiser but it does what it says. My skin hates moisturisers but using salicylic acid (and benzoyl peroxide in the past) I need to moisturise. I use this at night unless I use a night treatment that night (continue reading for more info on my night treatments).

Manuka Doctor ApiClear Skin Treatment Serum (£19.99 on manukadoctor.co.uk) – This is a serum with 3 active ingredients – Purified Bee Venom, Manuka honey & royal jelly, all three are known for anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Serums can be used alone or before moisturisers as they get to the deeper layers of your skin. I use this most evenings, it is non-greasy and lightweight, works well for my acne.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo Dual Action Acne Treatment (£11.62 in Boots) – this is not really a moisturiser nor a serum, it is something that can be used alongside other products. I use it most nights with my Cetaphil Cream. Some evenings I use one of my night treatments which is when I avoid using other products. This is a very effective acne treatment and as you can see I don’t use one brand (my face wash is from Dermalogica, my toner is from Elemis etc) because I have found what works best along the way. You can however buy La Roche-Posay, Dermalogica, Pro-activ, Clinique and many other anti-blemish ranges in full. I recommend using this as anti-blemish treatment not as moisturiser. Active ingredient is ProceradTM [a patented Ceramide].

Clarins Truly-Matte Hydra Matte Lotion and Truly-Matte Pore Minimizing Serum (£27.00 each on clarins.co.uk) – these are my morning duo. Truly-Matte are truly matte which is what I need before I apply my make up. Both products are designed for combination skin and are not neccessarily an anti-blemish product but with purifying Alpine Willow Herb and soothing Linden— they instantly calm irritations, tighten pores and control shine on the T-zone—ensuring a fresh matte complexion. Clarins website has detailed information on all ingredients which I recommend reading to improve your beauty product ingredient lingo. I don’t use any other moisturisers/serums in the morning.

OVERNIGHT TREATMENTS

Overnight treatments are a blessing because they work while you sleep. I only have two (very different ones) and I am a huge fan of both.

Bravura 15% Glycolic Acid Night Treatment; bareMinerals Pure Transformation Night Treatment; MAC 129 Powder/Blush Brush

Bravura 15% Glycolic Acid Night Treatment (£17.40 on bravuralondon.com) – my initial review on this product can be found here and I did promise you Part 2, but I think it is fair if I mention this product here as it plays big part in my acne treatment regimen. I have used it for over 3 weeks now and even though I initially used it every night I now only use it once every other night, sometimes even less often and it is more than enough as it is a powerful treatment. This product is Bravura London’s most requested product as it works for all but the most sensitive of skin types.The reason I love it is because it is exfoliating yet nourishing, it is recommended for evening use and is ideal for spotty skins that can become a little dry when using gels or oil free based lotions. For more details on how glycolic acid works and how it can help your acne please go to Bravura London website. It is extremely important you understand how your skin care products work and what each one of them does. I was a little scared to use this at first but it never once has irritated my skin or caused any redness / dryness. As I said I don’t use other moisturisers / serums on the evenings I use the night treatment. I am also extra careful with my exfoliators and scrubs / face washes when I am about to apply this. I can’t comment whether this treatment works alone but it helps my acne alongside other products, glycolic acid also stimulates your skin to produce more collagen which is the main structural protein of the skin and keeps it elastic and line free. When using traditional acne treatments your skin can appear older due to dryness so it is important you invest in anti-ageing range, ideally one that won’t cause blemishes. I highly recommend this product which like Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser is 2in1 – anti-blemish and anti-ageing.

bareMinerals Pure Transformation Night Treatment in Clear (£45.00 on bareminerals.co.uk) – this is bareMinerals’ ActiveSoil Complex in it’s most concentrated form. This powder formula dramatically reduces the appearance of pores, improves skin tone and texture, and increases luminosity. Powdering your face before bed ? – you may ask. Well, I too thought that’s a bit weird but after all BareMinerals claim you can go to sleep in any of their foundations. This powder is a bit shiny so I wouldn’t want to apply it during they day (even though you can) but it does work miracles while you sleep. This has to be used as very last step of your nighttime routine and can be used with any other product (I never use it with Bravura Glycolic Acid Overnight Treatment but any other moisturisers / lotions are fine). It will set you back £45 but I really recommend it. It reduces pores and increases cell turnover which helps acne scars heal faster. Available in Clear, Light, Medium and Tan to diffuse imperfections and won’t come off your pillow (don’t know how – magic!). It comes with a brush built in inside the pot but I am not a fan, it is a bit stiff and I end up wasting the powder so I use MAC 129 Powder/Blusher Brush (£28.00 on maccosmetics.co.uk) but any CLEAN brush will do.

MASKS & PEELS

Exfoliating removes dry/dead skin cells on the surface of the skin and is one of the most important aspects of your home skincare routine for face and body. If you don’t exfoliate count your other products wasted. It improves your skin texture and can even out the skin tone. Exfoliating doesn’t always mean scrubbing and even though I mentioned exfoliating in first chapter I want to explain what peels and masks can do for your skin.

Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel; Bravura Salicylic Acid Chemical Peel, Bravura Applicator Brush; Glamglow Supermud Clearing Treatment

 

Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel (£32.00 on elemis.com) – this is a very gentle cream exfoliator, it is completely non-abrasive which is great for acne-prone skin. I use this once a week (can be used 2-3 times a week) by leaving it on for 15 minutes then washing off with lukewarm water. Enzyme peels are very powerful and ‘eat away’ dead skin cells. It smells amazing and is one of my favourite Elemis products. Again, visit Elemis website for some useful and interesting information on skincare.

Bravura Salicylic Acid 2% Chemical Peel (£9.59 on bravuralondon.com) – first of all, DO NOT use this with the enzyme peels and read the rest of the instructions that come with this product (or online) carefully! I use this once a week, sometimes once every other week because my acne is fairly mild and other products I use keep it at bay. Salicylic acid peel is one of the most effective acne treatments and Bravura version is great for sensitive skin because it is a mild peel and has a PH of 3. This particular peel can be used every other night. I recommend it for the obvious reasons (salicylic acid) and because it is affordable and very gentle compared to salon salicylic acid peels that are also available. I apply it with Bravura Chemical Peel Applicator Brush (£3.48 on bravuralondon.com) because it means you don’t have to use your fingers and waste the product and it gives a quick and even application of chemical exfoliator to the area you’re treating.

Glamglow Very Gorgeous Supermud Clearing Treatment (currently £34.99 on lookfantastic.com) – this has been my favourite mask for over a year and it’s worth every penny. Glamglow Super Mud is an innovative facial treatment mask that works to tighten skin texture and pores whilst fighting common skin problems such as blemishes, breakouts and even ingrown hair. I use this 1-2 times a week (leaving on for 10-15 minutes until it goes hard) with noticeable results after just one use. Again, formulated with Glycolic, Salicylic and Lactic Acids (which I hope we are now familiar with). This is the only mask I use and even though I occasionally try some others from my beauty boxes I haven’t found a replacement yet. Don’t forget – face masks are a great way to relax too!

Me covered in Supermud

FOOD SUPPLEMENTS 

Food supplements are an integral part of acne treatment because acne often comes from the inside – poor diets, stress, lack of vitamins, you name it!

Skin, hair & nails Formula; Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5); Cod Liver Oil; Evening Primrose Oil

 

Holland & Barrett Skin, hair and nails Formula ingredients list

Holland & Barrett Skin Hair & Nails Formula Caplets (from £9.99 for 60 caplets) – I take these as multivitamins because the long list of ingredients covers everything from Vitamin A,C,D,E to B5, B6, B12, B1 and B2 to zinc, iron, calcium and so on (full list can be found here). I am not even sure of benefits of some ingredients but the ones that stand out for me are: Vitamin D, Vitamin B5, Zinc, Iron and Vitamin E. I recommend you read more on benefits of vitamins that interest you here, it is a great website with lots of useful information.

Holland & Barrett Timed Release Pantothenic Acid Caplets 500mg (from £9.99 for 100 caplets) – Pantothenic Acid is otherwise known as Vitamin B5 and rumour has it that taking Vitamin B5 in little crazy excessive amounts can cure acne. Please research side effects though if you plan on doing this. I take one a day + the dose from the skin, hair and nails multivitamins. The whole theory lays on the fact that vitamin B5 deficiency limits fat metabolism, and thus those excess fats are pushed through the skin as sebum.

Holland & Barrett Cod Liver Oil Capsules 1000mg (from £5.49 for 60 capsules) – cod liver oil is full of omega-3 fatty acids which can treat dry skin, it also contains vitamin A which is great for preventing acne (main ingredient in widely known acne drug Accutane is Isotretinoin which is a form of vitamin A). Fish oil is great for overall health.

Holland & Barrett Natural Evening Primrose Oil Capsules 500mg plus Vitamin B6 (from £3.99 for 30 capsules) – Women can take primrose oil to naturally treat PMS symptoms because of its essential fatty acid content. Evening primrose oil balances hormones and adult acne (especially in women) is often hormonal. I take this mainly for general health benefits and to balance my hormones after long use of contraceptive pill.

Food supplements are important for me but make sure you do your own research and find out what’s best for you. As we all know, there is never ‘one works for all’ solution.

BODY ACNE

Body acne can be frustrating because it can’t be covered by make up and many products are designed for your face so it is either really expensive to use them on your body or simply inconvenient (especially if it is your back).

Grounded Coffee Body Scrub; Bravura Dermaflannel; Oxe Derm Body Acne Spray; Elle MacPherson Wet and Dry Face and Body Brush

I won’t repeat myself on Grounded Coffee Scrub and Bravura Dermaflannel as you can read about these in ‘Cleansing’ chapter.

Oxe Derm Body Acne Spray (£19.97 on Amazon) – this is salicylic acid spray that is great for body acne because it is easy to spray it on your back and chest. I use this after shower and let it dry. I don’t have a bad body acne but as I sweat quite a bit at the gym I get some blackheads and an occasional spot. This has been an affordable, easy-to-use solution for me.

Elle MacPherson Wet and Dry Face and Body Brush (£21.99 on Amazon) – this brush is great as it comes with 4 different heads and can be used on face as well as body, I am not a fan of abrasive face exfoliation but it works on my body, I actually go over the whole body as it is not just to treat blemishes and will get rid of dead skin cells everywhere. It is waterproof and comes with batteries.

To conclude, I don’t know if I will ever be 100% blemish free but after trying contraceptive pills (which can be a great solution for women who suffer with hormonal acne), antibiotics and prescription topical treatments I have decided to stay away from them if I can keep my acne at bay with drugstore / beauty products (and it looks like I can). Long use of antibiotics can damage internal organs and damage the balance of your healthy gut bacteria, topical acne treatments are often harsh on the skin and contraceptive pill comes with all sorts of side effects so even though my story doesn’t end here I would like to encourage you to try more natural solutions. But be patient, there is no overnight cure for acne, whether it is mild like mine or severe. Remember, there are also many cheaper alternatives on the market and research is the key. Acne can also be a sign of underlying health conditions such as PCOS therefore always consult your doctor.

Love,

Mari xxx

 

TODAY’S LOOK WITH SOME NEWBIES

I experimented a little bit today as I recently purchased a new contour palette and a mattifier.

My today’s look

I used all my current favourites from What’s inside my make up bag? posts with some additions / replacements:

1. Jelly Pong Pong Fairy Lashes CURL Mascara  (£17.95 on jellypongpong.com) – I have had this since last October (courtesy  of Glossybox) and I tried this when it arrived but it ended up going everywhere as I blinked so I wasn’t convinced by this mascara. However, it has outstanding reviews online and apparently it is a sculpting, curling mascara that continually curls lashes throughout the day with a unique synthesis of Moringa Seed resin that dries down and holds the curl of lashes for long-lasting results, so I decided to give it another go. I have naturally long lashes but this mascara makes my lashes longer, more defined and definitely curls them. It is a bit ‘wet’ but if you are careful it will stay where it should, it doesn’t take too long to dry. Jelly Pong Pong cosmetics are cruelty-free which I like. I haven’t decided yet if I would re-purchase at £17.95 but it is long-wearing and there have been no panda-eyes incidents so I am really warming to it. SCORE: 8/10

2. Benefit The Porefessional: Matte Rescue 50ml (currently £19.35 on feelunique.com) – this is Benefit’s latest addition to POREfessional family and is not a moisturiser nor a primer.. It is a mattifier i.e. mattifying gel. This is to be used on top of your moisturiser but before you apply primer. Sounds like a lot to think about but this product might be life-changing. TOP SECRET pore ingredient: diamond powder known for its soft-focus pore-blurring effect, instantly minimizes the look of pores and gives that invisible finish. Today is the first time I used this and no shine so far (I find it hard to believe because my face normally goes shiny within hours). It feels lightweight and even though it is not a primer I think it can replace it for those who don’t like using a primer just to block in that moisturiser and prevent the shine. I use  Benefit POREfessional face primer balm and with my new Matte Rescue I think it’s my future secret weapon! SCORE: 9/10 so far

3. Sleek Face Form Contour Kit in Light (£10.00 on sleekmakeup.com) – I couldn’t decide between this one and Beauty UK contour palette for a long time but I think I made the right decision in the end. It comes in fair, light, medium and dark – simple. This contour palette from Sleek includes a blusher which is handy when you need to fit as much make up as possible in your clutch bag. I used it with my contour brush and it is as good as Smashbox Step by Step Contour Kit (£35.00 in Boots) I had for a very long time. The main difference (apart from the price) is the highlighter which in Smashbox Palette is almost useless, Sleek highlighter is a little bit too shiny for my liking but once blended in with setting powder it works really well. Smashbox palette also comes with a bronzer while Sleek has blusher in their fair and light palettes (bronzers in medium and dark), personally I prefer that option because I don’t use bronzers and my Smashbox one didn’t get used at all, not making it very good value for money. I definitely recommend this ultimate face definition kit in one neat compact designed to suit all skintones. I was also very impressed with Sleek packaging, it feels and looks more expensive than it is. You can also purchase this product on Amazon (Prime delivery available). SCORE: 9/10

4. Nicka K 24h Waterproof Eyeliner in Dark Brown ($5.99 on nicka.com (US only) I think from UK you can buy it here but it may be expensive to get this delivered as it is Amazon US, mine came from February’s Glossybox). I was really disappointed to learn it came in brown and not black at first (I think I shared this opinion with many other glossies too) but I am now grateful for being introduced to brown eyeliners. Being a green-eyed girl black eyeliner can be too much, until a few days ago I simply thought ‘avoid eyeliners’, now I know that brown eyeliner is the answer! Not so sure it would work for liquid eyeliners but when it comes to pencils – definitely. Not sure about it being 24h waterproof but it does last most of the day. SCORE: 8/10

That’s everything for now. I used my old favorites including Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation, YSL Touche Eclat and Beauty UK Eyebrow Kit. Lips – Lord & Berry Matte Lipstick Crayon in Intimacy Pink, of course (in case I haven’t praised this enough?).

Love,

Mari xxx